From November to March, a typical customer’s average bill would climb to $118.21 from a current of average of $103.61, according to an exhibit submitted to the N.C. Utilities Commission.

Summer bills (April through October) would rise to $67.32 from a current average of $59.63.

That is if the full rate increase is approved — which is unlikely. The public staff of the commission, assigned to represent the interests of ordinary customers, expects to challenge parts of the increase. For instance, Piedmont is seeking an 11.3% return on equity. Public Staff Executive Director Bob Gruber says he expects the staff to recommend something less than 10%. That would cut $21 million out of the rate proposal, in which Piedmont seeks to raise $79.8 million in new revenue. And Gruber expects the staff to propose other cuts to the rate increase.

Under the proposed rates, residential customers would account for almost 52% of Piedmont’s revenue. That is up marginally from about 51% at present.

Commercial customers account for the next largest chunk of Piedmont's revenue. Small commercial customers would account for 25.4% of the utility's revenue, and midsized commercial customers would account for 4.4%. Those numbers are also up marginally from current shares of the utility's revenue.

Industrial customers account for just 1.9% of Piedmont’s revenue. Special contract customers would account for 10.6% of revenue.

Piedmont's current rates N.C. rates generate about $856.7 million in revenue. The new rates, if approved, would raise about $936.1 million.

John Downey covers the energy industry and public companies for the Charlotte Business Journal.

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